Published on August 22, 2024 by Kariuki Mwangi
Last Updated on 2 years by Kariuki Mwangi
A company associated with businessman Joshua Kulei is on the spot for operating in the mining and exports business without a license.
African Diatomite Mining Limited (ADIL), which is allegedly owned by Kulei was on the spotlight over the supply of fake fertilizer scandal has been accused of operating with no requisite licenses in the mining industry leaving their sub-contractors on the wrong side of the law.
Investigations reveal that ADIL have been operating without licenses from the mining regulatory authority under the under the Mining Act 2016 as well as licenses from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and other government authorities. Preliminary investigations pointed at forged and fake documents used by the firm to enter into multi million deals leaving their contractors exposed to litigation, even after following due process.
ADIL, which is said to have supplied some products used in mixing fertilizer supplied by the SBL Innovate, which is one of the companies that had been contracted to supply the product to National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
According to inside investigations. ADIL, owns a plant in Kariandusi, Nakuru county, worth over Ksh. 2 billion with mining sites in Soysambu but the company has no licenses to operate at the area nor in the mining industry.
ADIL has been contracting other companies and persons in various business deals including the fertilizer business but unknown to them, the company owned by the powerful business man has no licenses.
According to inside sources, ADIL has been operating with no license since 2019 raising eyebrows as to how the company has maneuvered the authorities for nine years without being licensed even as more revelations come up that ADIL has allegedly been using fake documentation to export minerals from Kenya without the authority of the ministry involved, nor NEMA.
In November, 2022, Adil entered a contract with SBL Initiative Manufacturers as ADIL’s product distributor but unknown to SBL. ADIL had no licenses.
When at the height of the fake fertilizer scandal, ADIL had some of its sub-contractors apprehended and questioned, however, the company never had its officials questioned even as they continued to operate without consent of the government.
People who were arrested over the fake fertilizer scandal have come out calling on authorities to draw investigations into the company’s operations as queries over the firm’s licensing remain in secrecy.
With no mining license, the company now sitting at a ranch worth over two billion has failed to produce certification proof of their license renewal as they continue exporting chemicals with no requisite licenses.
Normally, companies such as ADIL, involved in excavation of minerals and precious gems, need a license to mine from the Ministry of Mining. But ADI has not renewed their license for the last 9 years.
Our calls to some of the former employers at Africa Diatomite Industries confirmed that, indeed, the company has been flouting basic rules and breaking the law. We also gathered that ADIL has been enjoying the protection of some influential figures in government, hence the continued existence and unquestioned operations.
Investigations further reveal that the company did not, also, have a NEMA licence, which added confusion onto how they were able to continue their mining activities while holding no legal papers from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
In the fake fertilizer scandal, NCPB boss Joseph Kimote and two others were charged denying several charges, including conspiracy to defraud and abuse of office. NCPB and African Diatomite Industries Limited were accused of conspiring to supply 139,688 bags of 25 Kg each of soil amendment and conditioner branded as fertilizer within NCPB depots across the country.
ADIL says on its website it was established in 1942 as the leading mining and processing diatomaceous earth filter aid products in the East and Central African region.
Its principal activities include the mining, processing and supply of diatomite filter aid products that are utilized in alcoholic beverage filtration, fruit juice filtration, edible vegetable oil filtration, resin filtration, sugar refining corn syrup, soil conditioning, organic grain preservatives, human food grade diatomaceous earth, pets management and animal food supplement.
